MAR C H 2 02 0

34567
LARGE PRINT EDITION

STUDY ARTICLES FOR:

MAY 4 - 3 1 , 2020
 STUDY
ARTICLE 10

Love and Appreciation

for Jehovah Lead to
Baptism
“What prevents me from getting baptized?”—ACTS 8:36.

SONG 37
Serving Jehovah Whole-Souled

PREVIEW
Some who love Jehovah are unsure if they are ready to
get baptized as one of his Witnesses. If you feel that way,
this article will help you to review some of the practical
things you can do that will lead you to baptism.
2
DO YOU want to get baptized as a disciple of
Christ? Love and appreciation have motivated
many to make that choice. Consider the example of
an official who served the queen of Ethiopia.
2 The Ethiopian acted immediately on what he
had learned from the Scriptures. (Read Acts 8:27-
31, 35-38.) What motivated him? He obviously ap-
preciated God’s Word; he was reading a passage
from the book of Isaiah as he rode in a chariot. And
when Philip spoke with him, the man developed an
appreciation for what Jesus had done for him. But
why had the official traveled to Jerusalem? Because
he had already developed a love for Jehovah. How
do we know? He had just been worshipping Jehovah
in Jerusalem. This man had apparently left the re-
ligion of his birth and had joined the only nation
that was dedicated to the true God. It was this same
love for Jehovah that motivated him to take yet an-
other vital step, that of getting baptized and be-
coming a disciple of Christ.—Matt. 28:19.
3 Love for Jehovah can motivate you to get bap-
tized. But love might also prevent you from doing
1-2. As indicated at Acts 8:27-31, 35-38, what motivated the Ethi-
opian eunuch to get baptized?
3. What might prevent a person from getting baptized? (See the
box “What Is in Your Heart?”)

MARCH 2020 3
What Is in Your Heart?
Jesus likened the message found in the Bible to seed and
human hearts to different types of soil. (Luke 8:4-8) Perhaps
you have been studying the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses for
some time. Why not read Luke 8:11-15 and ask yourself, ‘My
heart matches which kind of soil?’

Trampled soil: This person

finds little time to prepare for
his Bible study session. He often
cancels his Bible study or misses
meetings because he is busy
doing other things.

Rocky soil: This person allows

pressure or opposition from his
peers or family to prevent him
from obeying Jehovah and living
by His standards.

4 THE WATCHTOWER
 Soil with thorns: This person
likes what he learns about
Jehovah, but he feels that having
money and possessions will make
him feel happy and secure. He
often misses his personal Bible
study sessions because he is
working or is engaging in some
kind of recreation.

Fine soil: This person regularly

studies the Bible and tries to
apply what he learns. His priority
in life is that of pleasing Jehovah.
Despite trials and opposition, he
persists in telling others what he
knows about Jehovah.

You control what is in your heart. Like the different types of

soil in Jesus’ illustration, your symbolic heart can be softened,
weeded, and improved. Remember, you choose the type of soil
that you are.
MARCH 2020 5
so. How? Note just some examples. You may love
your unbelieving family and friends deeply, and you
may worry that if you get baptized, they will hate
you. (Matt. 10:37) Or you may love habits that you
know God hates, and you may find it difficult to
break free from their grip. (Ps. 97:10) Or you may
have grown up celebrating customs that are associ-
ated with false religion. You may love the good
memories associated with those celebrations. As a
result, you may find it difficult to stop observing
customs that displease Jehovah. (1 Cor. 10:20, 21)
The question you face is, “What or whom do I love
the most?”
THE MOST IMPORTANT LOVE
4
You have many worthwhile things to love and
appreciate. For instance, even before studying with
Jehovah’s Witnesses, you may have formed a deep
appreciation for the Bible. And you may have devel-
oped a love for Jesus. Now that you have come to
know Jehovah’s Witnesses, you might love to asso-
ciate with them. But loving those good things will
not necessarily make you want to dedicate yourself
to Jehovah and get baptized. The primary motiva-
tion that will lead you to baptism is love for Jeho-
4. What is the primary motivation that will lead you to baptism?

6 THE WATCHTOWER
vah God himself. When you love Jehovah more than
all else, you will not let anything or anyone prevent
you from serving him. You could view love for Jeho-
vah as both the gateway to baptism and the guard-
rail that helps you stay on the path of serving God.
5Jesus said that we must love Jehovah with our
whole heart, soul, mind, and strength. (Mark 12:
30) How can you learn to love and respect Jehovah
that deeply? Reflecting on Jehovah’s love for us
moves us to love him in return. (1 John 4:19) What
other feelings and actions will naturally follow once
you develop that most important love?1
6 Learn about Jehovah through his creation. (Read
Romans 1:20; Rev. 4:11) Meditate on the wisdom
evident in the designs of plants and animals. Learn
a little about the wonderful way your body is made.
(Ps. 139:14) And think about the power that Jeho-
vah packed into our sun, realizing that it is just one
of billions of stars.2 (Isa. 40:26) As you do, your
1 Each person is different, so some may apply the suggestions men-
tioned in this article in an order different from what is outlined here.
2 For more examples, see the brochures Was Life Created? and The
Origin of Life—Five Questions Worth Asking.

5. What questions will we consider?

6. According to Romans 1:20, what is one way that you can learn
about Jehovah?

MARCH 2020 7
respect for Jehovah will deepen. However, knowing
that Jehovah is wise and powerful is only part of
the foundation of your relationship with him. To
build a strong love for Jehovah, you need to know
more about him.
7
You need to be convinced that Jehovah cares
for you personally. Do you find it difficult to believe
that the Creator of heaven and earth knows that
you exist and that he cares for you? If so, remem-
ber that Jehovah is “not far off from each one
of us.” (Acts 17:26-28) He “searches through all
hearts,” and he promises you that, as David told
Solomon, “if you search for him, he will let himself
be found by you.” (1 Chron. 28:9) In fact, the rea-
son you are now studying the Bible is that, as Jeho-
vah says, “I have drawn you to me.” (Jer. 31:3) The
more you appreciate all that Jehovah has done for
you, the deeper your love for him will be.
8One way to respond to Jehovah’s love is by talk-
ing to him in prayer. Your love for God will grow as
you tell him about your concerns and thank him for
all that he does for you. And the bond between you
and Jehovah will be strengthened as you see how he
answers your prayers. (Ps. 116:1) You will become
7. To love Jehovah deeply, of what do you need to be convinced?
8. How can you respond to Jehovah’s love?

8 THE WATCHTOWER
 The best way to be close to God and know
what he wants from us is by studying the Bible
(See paragraph 9)

convinced that he understands you. But to grow

close to Jehovah, you need to understand his way
of thinking. And you need to know what he wants
from you. The only way you will gain that knowl-
edge is by studying his Word, the Bible.
9 Learn to appreciate God’s Word, the Bible. Only
the Bible contains the truth about Jehovah and his
purpose for you. You show that you appreciate the
Bible by reading it each day, by preparing for your
9. How can you show that you appreciate the Bible?

MARCH 2020 9
personal Bible study session, and by applying what
you learn. (Ps. 119:97, 99; John 17:17) Do you have
a personal Bible reading schedule? Do you follow
that schedule, making sure that you read the Bible
each day?
10 One of the unique features of the Bible is that
it contains eyewitness accounts about Jesus. It is
the only accurate record that explains what Jesus
has done for you. As you learn what Jesus said and
did, you will likely be moved to form a friendship
with him.
11 Learn to love Jesus, and your love for Jehovah
will grow. Why? Because Jesus reflects his Father’s
qualities perfectly. (John 14:9) So the more you
learn about Jesus, the better you will understand
and appreciate Jehovah. Think of the compassion
Jesus showed for those who were looked down on
by others—the poor, the sick, and the vulnerable.
Think, too, of the practical advice he gives you and
how your life improves when you listen to him.
—Matt. 5:1-11; 7:24-27.
12Your affection for Jesus is likely to become
stronger as you think deeply about the sacrifice he
10. What is one of the unique features of the Bible?
11. How can you learn to love Jehovah?
12. As you learn about Jesus, what may you be moved to do?

10 THE WATCHTOWER
made so that our sins can be forgiven. (Matt. 20:
28) When you understand that Jesus was willing to
die for you, you may feel moved to repent and seek
Jehovah’s forgiveness. (Acts 3:19, 20; 1 John 1:9)
And as you come to love Jesus and Jehovah, you
will naturally be drawn to others who feel the same
way.
13Learn to love Jehovah’s family. Your unbelieving
family and former friends may not understand why
you want to dedicate yourself to Jehovah. They may
even oppose you. Jehovah will help you by provid-
ing a spiritual family. If you stay close to that spir-
itual family, you will find the love and support you
need. (Mark 10:29, 30; Heb. 10:24, 25) In time,
your family members may join you in serving Jeho-
vah and living by his standards.—1 Pet. 2:12.
14Learn to appreciate and apply Jehovah’s stan-
dards. Before coming to know Jehovah, you may
have set your own standards, but now you see that
Jehovah’s standards are better. (Ps. 1:1-3; read
1 John 5:3.) Think about the Bible’s counsel for
husbands, wives, parents, and children. (Eph. 5:22–
6:4) As you apply that counsel, have you seen
13. What has Jehovah provided for you?
14. As stated at 1 John 5:3, what have you discovered about Jeho-
vah’s standards?

MARCH 2020 11
your family life improve? As you obey Jehovah’s di-
rections about choosing your friends wisely, have
your personal habits improved? Are you a happier
person? (Prov. 13:20; 1 Cor. 15:33) Likely the an-
swer to those questions is yes.
15 At times, you may find it difficult to know how
to apply the Bible principles you are learning. That
is why Jehovah uses his organization to provide you
with Bible-based material that can help you to dis-
cern right from wrong. (Heb. 5:13, 14) When you
read and study this material, you will see how prac-
tical and specific it is, and you will likely be drawn
to Jehovah’s organization.
16 Learn to love and support Jehovah’s organiza-
tion. Jehovah has organized his people into congre-
gations; his Son, Jesus, is the head over them all.
(Eph. 1:22; 5:23) Jesus has appointed a small group
of anointed men to take the lead in organizing the
work that he wants done today. Jesus referred to
this group of men as “the faithful and discreet
slave,” and they take seriously their responsibility
to feed and protect you spiritually. (Matt. 24:45-
47) One of the ways the faithful slave helps to care
for you is by ensuring that qualified elders are ap-
15. What can you do if you need help in applying Bible principles?
16. How has Jehovah organized his people?

12 THE WATCHTOWER
pointed to shepherd you. (Isa. 32:1, 2; Heb. 13:17;
1 Pet. 5:2, 3) The elders are willing to pour them-
selves out for you, to comfort you, and to help you
grow ever closer to Jehovah. But one of the most
important things they can do for you is help you
teach others about Jehovah.—Eph. 4:11-13.
17 Help others learn to love Jehovah. Jesus told his
followers to teach others about Jehovah. (Matt. 28:
19, 20) It is possible to obey that command out of
a sense of duty. But as your love for Jehovah grows,
you will feel the same way as did the apostles Peter
and John, who said: “We cannot stop speaking
about the things we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:
20) Few things bring as much happiness as helping
someone come to love Jehovah. Imagine how much
joy the evangelizer Philip felt when he helped the
Ethiopian learn the truth contained in the Scrip-
tures and get baptized! When you imitate Philip and
obey Jesus’ command to preach, you prove that
you want to be one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. (Read
Romans 10:10, 13, 14.) At that point, you will like-
ly ask the same question as the Ethiopian did:
“What prevents me from getting baptized?”—Acts
8:36.
17. According to Romans 10:10, 13, 14, why do we talk to others
about Jehovah?

MARCH 2020 13
 18
You will take the most important step of your
life when you decide to get baptized. Because it is
such a serious step, you need to consider carefully
what is involved. What do you need to know about
baptism? What do you need to do before and after
baptism? Those questions will be answered in the
next article.
18. What will we consider in the next article?

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PICTURE DESCRIPTION Page 9: A sister gives a tract to a young woman
whom she meets while shopping.

HOW WOULD YOU ANSWER?

˛ What should ˛ How can we learn ˛ How can we
be our primary to love Jehovah? benefit from
motive for serving meditating on
Jehovah, and why the illustration
do you answer found at Luke
that way? 8:11-15?

SONG 2
Jehovah Is Your Name
 STUDY
ARTICLE 11

Are You Ready

to Get Baptized?
“Baptism . . . is also now saving you.”—1 PET. 3:21.

SONG 28
Gaining Jehovah’s Friendship

PREVIEW
Are you thinking about getting baptized? If so, this article
has been prepared especially with you in mind. We will
discuss some key questions on this important subject.
Your answers will help you to decide if you are ready to
get baptized.
15
IMAGINE that a person decides to build a house. He
knows what kind of house he wants to build. Should
he immediately go out and buy some supplies and
start building? No. Before he begins, there is some-
thing important that he ought to do—calculate how
much the house will cost. Why? Because he needs
to know whether he has enough money to finish the
house. If he carefully calculates the cost in ad-
vance, he is more likely to be successful in complet-
ing his new house.
2 Has your love and appreciation for Jehovah
moved you to think about getting baptized? If so,
you are facing a decision similar to that of the man
who wants to build a house. Why can we say that?
Consider Jesus’ words found at Luke 14:27-30.
(Read.) Jesus was discussing what it means to be
his disciple. To be his follower, we must be willing
to accept “the expense” involved—the challenges
and the sacrifices. (Luke 9:23-26; 12:51-53) So be-
fore you get baptized, you need to think carefully
about all that is involved. Then you will be better
prepared to keep serving God faithfully as a bap-
tized Christian.
1. What should a person do before starting to build a house?
2. According to Luke 14:27-30, what should you think carefully
about before getting baptized?

16 THE WATCHTOWER
 3 Is becoming a baptized disciple of Christ worth
the expense? Of course it is! Baptism opens the
door to countless blessings—now and in the future.
Let us discuss some important questions about
baptism. Doing so will help you to answer the ques-
tion, “Am I ready to get baptized?”

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT

DEDICATION AND BAPTISM
4 What is dedication? Before you can get baptized,
you must make a dedication. When you make a ded-
ication, you approach Jehovah in earnest prayer
and tell him that you will use your life to serve him
forever. When you dedicate yourself to God, you
“disown” yourself. (Read Matthew 16:24.) You now
belong to Jehovah, which is a great privilege. (Rom.
14:8) You are telling him that from now on, you will
be focused on serving him and not on pleasing
yourself. Your dedication is a vow—a solemn prom-
ise made to God. Jehovah does not force us to
make such a vow. But when we do, he expects us to
fulfill it.—Ps. 116:12, 14.
3. What will we discuss in this article?
4. (a) What is dedication? (b) What does it mean to “disown” one-
self, as mentioned at Matthew 16:24?

MARCH 2020 17
Two Questions to Be Answered
on the Day of Your Baptism
1 Have you repented of your sins, dedicated
yourself to Jehovah, and accepted his way
of salvation through Jesus Christ?
2 Do you understand that your baptism identifies
you as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in association
with Jehovah’s organization?

5
How is dedication related to baptism? Your dedi-
cation is personal and private; it is between you and
Jehovah. Baptism is public; it takes place in front
of others, usually at an assembly or a convention.
When you get baptized, you show others that you
have already dedicated yourself to Jehovah.1 So
your baptism lets others know that you love Jeho-
1 See the box “Two Questions to Be Answered on the Day of Your Bap-
tism.”

5. How is dedication related to baptism?

18 THE WATCHTOWER
vah your God with your whole heart, soul, mind,
and strength and that you are determined to serve
him forever.—Mark 12:30.
6 Is it really necessary to get baptized? Consider
the words found at 1 Peter 3:18-22. (Read.) Just as
the ark was visible proof of Noah’s faith, your bap-
tism is discernible evidence of your dedication to
Jehovah. But is baptism really necessary? Yes it is.
Peter commented on the reason why. First, it is
“saving you.” Baptism can save us if we have taken
the necessary steps to show that we have faith in
Jesus and believe that he died for us, was raised to
heaven, and is now “at God’s right hand.”
7 Second, baptism leads to “a good conscience.”
When we dedicate ourselves to God and get bap-
tized, we enter into a special relationship with him.
Because of our sincere repentance and our faith in
the ransom, God forgives our sins. We can thus
have a good conscience before him.
8 What should be the basis for your decision to get
baptized? As a result of your careful study of the Bi-
ble, you have learned much about Jehovah—his
6-7. According to 1 Peter 3:18-22, what are two reasons why bap-
tism is necessary?
8. What should be the basis for your decision to get baptized?

MARCH 2020 19
personality and his ways. What you have learned
about him has warmed your heart and moved you
to love him very much. Your love for Jehovah must
be the primary basis for your decision to get bap-
tized.
20 THE WATCHTOWER
BEFORE YOUR BAPTISM: AFTER BAPTISM:
Come to know Read God’s Word
Jehovah and Jesus and meditate on it
well every day
Develop faith Pray continually
Repent of your sins Keep seeking first
and turn your life the Kingdom in
around your life
Dedicate yourself
to God

9 Your decision to get baptized is also based on

the Bible truths you have accepted. Consider what
Jesus said when he gave the commission to make
disciples. (Read Matthew 28:19, 20.) According to
Jesus, those who get baptized must do so “in the
name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy
spirit.” What did this mean? You must believe with
9. What does it mean to get baptized in the name of the Father and
of the Son and of the holy spirit, as stated at Matthew 28:19, 20?

MARCH 2020 21
all your heart the Bible truths about Jehovah; his
Son, Jesus; and the holy spirit. These truths are
very powerful and can deeply touch your heart.
(Heb. 4:12) Let us review some of them.
10 Think back to when you learned these truths
about the Father: His “name is Jehovah,” he is “the
Most High over all the earth,” and he alone is “the
true God.” (Ps. 83:18; Isa. 37:16) He is our Creator,
and “salvation belongs to Jehovah.” (Ps. 3:8; 36:9)
He has made provision to save us from sin and
death and has given us the prospect of everlasting
life. (John 17:3) Your dedication and baptism will
identify you as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. (Isa.
43:10-12) You will be part of a worldwide family of
worshippers who are proud to be called by God’s
name and make it known to others.—Ps. 86:12.
11What a privilege it is to understand what the Bi-
ble teaches about the Father! When you accept
these precious truths, your heart moves you to ded-
icate yourself to Jehovah and get baptized.
12 What was your reaction when you learned the
following truths about the Son? Jesus is the second
10-11. What truths about the Father have you learned and ac-
cepted?
12-13. What truths about the Son have you learned and accepted?

22 THE WATCHTOWER
most important person in the universe. He is our
Ransomer. He willingly gave his life for us. When
we show by our actions that we have faith in the
ransom, we can have our sins forgiven, develop
a friendship with God, and gain everlasting life.
(John 3:16) Jesus is our High Priest. He wants to
help us to benefit from the ransom and to have a
close relationship with God. (Heb. 4:15; 7:24, 25)
As King of God’s Kingdom, he is the one through
whom Jehovah will sanctify His name, end wick-
edness, and bring eternal blessings in the com-
ing Paradise. (Matt. 6:9, 10; Rev. 11:15) Jesus is
our model. (1 Pet. 2:21) He set an example for
us in devoting his life to doing God’s will.—John
4:34.
13When you accept what the Bible teaches about
Jesus, you come to love God’s dear Son. That love
moves you to use your life to do God’s will, as Je-
sus did. As a result, you feel impelled to dedicate
yourself to Jehovah and get baptized.
14What did you think when you learned the fol-
lowing truths about the holy spirit? It is, not a per-
son, but God’s active force. Jehovah used the holy
14-15. What truths about the holy spirit have you learned and ac-
cepted?

MARCH 2020 23
spirit to inspire the writing of the Bible, and the
spirit helps us to understand and apply what we
read in it. (John 14:26; 2 Pet. 1:21) By means of his
spirit, Jehovah gives us “power beyond what is
normal.” (2 Cor. 4:7) The spirit empowers us to
preach the good news, fight temptation, deal with
discouragement, and overcome trials. It helps us
to display the beautiful qualities that make up “the
fruitage of the spirit.” (Gal. 5:22) God freely gives
his spirit to those who trust in him and sincerely
ask him for it.—Luke 11:13.
15 How reassuring and comforting it is to know
that Jehovah’s worshippers can rely on the holy
spirit to help them in serving God! When you ac-
cept the truths you have learned about the holy
spirit, you will feel moved to dedicate yourself to
God and get baptized.
16You are taking an important step when you de-
cide to dedicate yourself to God and get baptized.
As we have learned, you must be willing to accept
the expense involved—the challenges and the sac-
rifices. But the blessings far outweigh the expense.
Baptism can save you, and it leads to a good con-
science before God. Your decision to get baptized
16. What have we learned so far in our discussion?

24 THE WATCHTOWER
must be based primarily on your love for Jehovah
God. You must also believe with all your heart the
truths you have learned about the Father, the Son,
and the holy spirit. After considering what we have
discussed so far, how would you answer the ques-
tion, “Am I ready to get baptized?”

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO

BEFORE BAPTISM

17 If you feel that you are ready to get baptized,

you no doubt have already taken a number of steps
to build a good relationship with Jehovah.1 As a re-
sult of your regular Bible study, you have come to
know much about Jehovah and Jesus. You have de-
veloped faith. (Heb. 11:6) You completely trust in
Jehovah’s promises found in the Bible, and you are
convinced that your faith in Jesus’ sacrifice can
save you from sin and death. You have repented of
your sins; you feel deeply sorry for the wrongs you
have committed, and you have asked Jehovah for
his forgiveness. You have turned your life around;
you have firmly rejected your former bad way of
1 See chapter 18 of the book What Can the Bible Teach Us?

17. What are some of the steps leading to baptism?

MARCH 2020 25
life and have begun living in a way that is pleasing
to God. (Acts 3:19) You are eager to tell others
about your faith. You qualified to become an un-
baptized publisher and began preaching with the
congregation. (Matt. 24:14) Jehovah is proud of
you for taking these necessary steps. You have
brought great joy to his heart.—Prov. 27:11.
18 Before you can get baptized, there are a few
other things you need to do. As we learned earlier,
you must dedicate yourself to God. Approach him
in private, heartfelt prayer, and promise him that
you will use your life to do his will. (1 Pet. 4:2) Then
let the coordinator of the body of elders know that
you want to get baptized. He will ask some elders to
meet with you. Please do not be anxious about
meeting with them. These dear brothers no doubt
already know you and love you. They will review
with you the basic Bible teachings that you have
learned. They want to make sure that you under-
stand those teachings and that you are aware of
the importance of dedication and baptism. If they
agree that you are ready, they will inform you that
you can get baptized at the next assembly or con-
vention.
18. What else do you need to do before you can get baptized?

26 THE WATCHTOWER
 WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO DO
AFTER YOUR BAPTISM
19Once you get baptized, what will you need to
do?1 Recall that dedication is a vow and that Jeho-
vah expects you to keep it. So after your baptism,
you have to live up to your dedication. How can you
do that?
20 Stay close to your congregation. As a baptized
Christian, you are now part of an “association of
brothers.” (1 Pet. 2:17) Your brothers and sisters in
the congregation are your spiritual family. By reg-
ularly attending the meetings, you will strengthen
your bond with them. Read God’s Word and medi-
tate on it every day. (Ps. 1:1, 2) After reading a por-
tion of the Bible, take some time to think deeply
about what you have read. Then the words will
reach your heart. “Pray continually.” (Matt. 26:41)
Your sincere prayers will draw you closer to Jeho-
vah. “Keep on . . . seeking first the Kingdom.”
(Matt. 6:33) You can do that by making the preach-
ing work a priority in your life. By sharing regularly
1 If you have not yet completed your study of the books What Can the
Bible Teach Us? and How to Remain in God’s Love, you should contin-
ue studying with a Bible teacher until you finish both books.

19-20. What will you need to do after your baptism, and how can
you do that?

MARCH 2020 27
in the ministry, you will keep your faith strong, and
you may help others to get on the road to everlast-
ing life.—1 Tim. 4:16.
21 The decision to dedicate yourself to Jehovah
and get baptized is the most important decision you
will ever make. It is true that there is expense in-
volved. Is it worth the expense? Absolutely! Any
hardships you may face in this old world are “mo-
mentary and light.” (2 Cor. 4:17) In contrast, your
baptism will open the way to a more satisfying life
now and “the real life” to come. (1 Tim. 6:19) By all
means, think carefully and pray about your answer
to the question, “Am I ready to get baptized?”
21. Your baptism will open the way to what?

HOW WOULD YOU ANSWER?

˛ What do you need ˛ What do you need ˛ What do you need
to know about to do before you to do after you
dedication and get baptized? get baptized?
baptism?

SONG 50
My Prayer of Dedication
 STUDY
ARTICLE 12

When Is the
Right Time to Speak?
“There is . . . a time to be silent and a time to speak.”
—ECCL. 3:1, 7.

SONG 124
Ever Loyal

PREVIEW
God’s Word contains principles that can help us know
when to speak and when to be silent. When we know and
apply what the Bible says, our speech will please Jehovah.
29
SOME of us like to talk a lot. Others like to be quiet.
As the theme text of this article points out, there is
both a time to speak and a time to be silent. (Read
Ecclesiastes 3:1, 7.) Still, we may wish that some of
our brothers and sisters would talk more. And we
may want some to talk less.
2 Speech is a gift from Jehovah. (Ex. 4:10, 11; Rev.
4:11) In his Word, he helps us to understand how to
use that gift properly. In this article, we will consid-
er Scriptural examples that will help us know when
to speak and when to be silent. We will also see how
Jehovah feels about what we say to others. First, let
us consider when we should speak.

WHEN SHOULD WE SPEAK?

3We should always be ready to speak about Jeho-
vah and the Kingdom. (Matt. 24:14; read Romans
10:14.) In so doing, we imitate Jesus. One of the
main reasons why Jesus came to earth was to tell
others the truth about his Father. (John 18:37) But
we must remember that how we speak is also impor-
tant. So when talking to others about Jehovah, we
1. What does Ecclesiastes 3:1, 7 teach us?
2. Who has the right to set the standards for when and how we
should speak?
3. According to Romans 10:14, when should we speak?

30 THE WATCHTOWER
must do so with “a mild temper and deep respect,”
and we should show consideration for the other per-
son’s feelings and beliefs. (1 Pet. 3:15) Then we will
do more than just talk; we will teach and possibly
reach the person’s heart.
4 Elders should not hesitate to speak up if they see
that a brother or a sister needs counsel. Of course,
they would choose the right time to speak so that
they do not needlessly embarrass the person. They
would want to wait until they are in a private setting.
Elders always endeavor to speak in a way that pre-
serves the dignity of the listener. Still, they do not
hold back from sharing Bible principles that can help
others to act wisely. (Read Proverbs 9:9.) Why is it
so important that we have the courage to speak up
when necessary? Consider two contrasting examples:
In one case, a man needed to correct his sons, and in
the other, a woman had to confront a future king.
5 High Priest Eli had two sons for whom he had
deep affection. Those sons, however, had no re-
spect for Jehovah. They held important positions as
priests serving at the tabernacle. But they abused
their authority, showed gross disrespect for the of-
ferings given to Jehovah, and brazenly committed
4. In line with Proverbs 9:9, how can our speech help others?
5. When did High Priest Eli fail to speak up?

MARCH 2020 31
sexual immorality. (1 Sam. 2:12-17, 22) According to
the Mosaic Law, Eli’s sons deserved to die, but per-
missive Eli merely reproved them mildly and allowed
them to continue serving at the tabernacle. (Deut.
21:18-21) How did Jehovah view the way that Eli
handled matters? He said to Eli: “Why do you keep
honoring your sons more than me?” Jehovah then
determined to put those two wicked men to death.
—1 Sam. 2:29, 34.
6 We learn an important lesson from Eli. If we find
out that a friend or a relative has broken God’s law,
we must speak up, reminding him of Jehovah’s stan-
dards. Then we must make sure that he gets the help
he needs from Jehovah’s representatives. (Jas. 5:14)
Never would we want to be like Eli, honoring a friend
or a relative more than we honor Jehovah. It takes
courage to confront someone who needs to be cor-
rected, but it is worth the effort. Note the contrast
between Eli’s example and that of an Israelite wom-
an named Abigail.
7 Abigail was the wife of a wealthy landowner
named Nabal. When David and his men were running
away from King Saul, they spent some time with Na-
bal’s shepherds and protected Nabal’s flocks from
6. What do we learn from Eli?
7. Why did Abigail speak to David?

32 THE WATCHTOWER
 Abigail set a good example in choosing the right time to speak
(See paragraphs 7-8)

marauder bands. Was Nabal grateful for their help?

No. When asked by David to provide his men with a
little food and water, Nabal got angry and screamed
abuses at them. (1 Sam. 25:5-8, 10-12, 14) As a re-
sult, David determined to kill every man in Nabal’s
household. (1 Sam. 25:13, 22) How could such a di-
saster be avoided? Abigail realized that it was time
to speak, so she courageously went to meet the 400
hungry, angry armed men and spoke to David.
MARCH 2020 33
WHEN TO SPEAK
˙ When talking to others about Jehovah, do so with “a mild
temper and deep respect” for others’ beliefs (paragraph 3)
˙ When we see someone heading down a wrong path (paragraph 8)
˙ Elders patiently and skillfully provide counsel when needed
(paragraphs 4, 9)

8 When Abigail met David, she spoke courageous-

ly, respectfully, and persuasively. Even though Abi-
gail was not to blame for the bad situation, she apol-
ogized to David. She appealed to his good qualities
and relied on Jehovah to help her. (1 Sam. 25:24, 26,
28, 33, 34) Like Abigail, we need to have the cour-
age to speak up if we see someone heading down a
8. What do we learn from Abigail’s example?

34 THE WATCHTOWER
dangerous path. (Ps. 141:5) We must be respectful,
but we must also be bold. When we lovingly offer a
person necessary counsel, we prove that we are a
true friend.—Prov. 27:17.
9 Elders in particular must have the courage to
speak to those in the congregation who take a false
step. (Gal. 6:1) Elders humbly realize that they too
are imperfect and may one day need counsel. But el-
ders do not let that hold them back from reproving
those who need discipline. (2 Tim. 4:2; Titus 1:9)
When counseling a person, they try to use their gift
of speech to teach him skillfully and patiently. They
love their brother, and that love moves them to ac-
tion. (Prov. 13:24) But their primary concern is to
honor Jehovah by upholding his standards and pro-
tecting the congregation from harm.—Acts 20:28.
10Up to this point, we have considered when to
speak up. However, there are times when it is best
for us to say nothing at all. What challenges might
we face in those situations?
WHEN SHOULD WE BE SILENT?
11It can be difficult to control our speech. The Bi-
ble writer James used an appropriate illustration to
9-10. What should elders remember when counseling others?
11. What illustration did James use, and why is it appropriate?

MARCH 2020 35
describe the challenge. He said: “If anyone does not
stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able to bridle
also his whole body.” (Jas. 3:2, 3) A bridle is put on
the head and a bit is put into the mouth of a horse.
By pulling on the reins, a rider can guide the animal
or bring it to a halt. If the rider loses control of the
reins, the horse can run wild and cause harm to it-
self and the rider. Similarly, if we fail to control our
speech, it can cause a lot of damage. Let us consid-
er some occasions when we need to “pull on the
reins” and hold back from speaking.
12How do you react when a brother or a sister has
information that should be viewed as confidential?
For example, if you meet someone who lives in a
land where our work is banned, are you tempted to
ask him to give details about how our work is car-
ried out in that country? No doubt your motives are
good. We love our brothers and are interested in
what is happening to them. We also want to be spe-
cific when praying for them. However, this is a time
when we should “pull on the reins” and hold back
from speaking. If we put pressure on someone who
has confidential information, we show a lack of love
—both to that person and to the brothers and sisters
12. When should we “pull on the reins” and hold back from speak-
ing?

36 THE WATCHTOWER
WHEN NOT TO SPEAK
˙ When tempted to disclose details about how our work
is carried out in lands that are under ban (paragraph 12)
˙ When details about sensitive and confidential congregation
matters are involved (paragraphs 13-14)

who are relying on him to keep quiet about their ac-

tivity. Certainly, none of us would want to add to the
difficulties of our brothers and sisters who live in
countries where our work is under ban. Similarly, no
brother or sister serving in such a land would want
to reveal details about how Witnesses living there
conduct their ministry or Christian activities.
MARCH 2020 37
 13 Elders in particular must apply the Bible princi-
ple recorded at Proverbs 11:13 by keeping matters
confidential. (Read.) This can be a challenge, espe-
cially if an elder is married. A married couple keep
their relationship strong by talking often to each
other and by sharing their intimate thoughts, feel-
ings, and anxieties. But an elder realizes that he
must not reveal the “confidential talk” of those in
the congregation. If he did, he would lose their trust
and ruin his reputation. Those who are appointed to
a position of trust in the congregation cannot be
“double-tongued,” or deceitful. (1 Tim. 3:8; ftn.)
That is, they cannot be devious or inclined to gos-
sip. If an elder loves his wife, he will not burden her
with information that she does not need to know.
14A wife can help her husband maintain a good
reputation by not pressuring him to talk about mat-
ters that should be kept confidential. When a wife
applies this advice, she not only supports her hus-
band but also shows honor to those who have con-
fided in him. And most important, she makes Jeho-
vah happy because she is contributing to the peace
and unity of the congregation.—Rom. 14:19.
13. As stated at Proverbs 11:13, what must elders do, and why?
14. How can the wife of an elder help him to maintain a good rep-
utation?

38 THE WATCHTOWER
 HOW DOES JEHOVAH FEEL
ABOUT WHAT WE SAY?
15We can learn much from the Bible book of Job
about how and when to speak. After Job suffered a
series of heartbreaking calamities, four men came
to comfort him and to offer counsel. Those men
spent a lot of time being silent. But from the state-
ments made later by three of these men—Eliphaz,
Bildad, and Zophar—it is obvious that they did not
spend this time thinking about how they could help
Job. Instead, they were thinking about how they
could prove that Job had done something wrong.
They made some accurate statements, but much of
what they said about Job and about Jehovah was ei-
ther unkind or untrue. They judged Job harshly.
(Job 32:1-3) How did Jehovah respond? His anger
burned hot against those three men. He called them
foolish and made them ask Job to pray for them.
—Job 42:7-9.
16
We learn a number of lessons from the bad ex-
amples set by Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. First,
we should not judge our brothers. (Matt. 7:1-5)
15. How did Jehovah feel about three of Job’s companions, and
why?
16. What can we learn from the bad examples set by Eliphaz, Bil-
dad, and Zophar?

MARCH 2020 39
Instead, we should listen carefully to them before we
speak. Only then will we be able to understand their
situation. (1 Pet. 3:8) Second, when we do speak, we
must make sure that our words are kind and our
statements accurate. (Eph. 4:25) And third, Jeho-
vah takes a keen interest in what we say to one an-
other.
17 The fourth man to visit Job was Elihu, a rela-
tive of Abraham. He listened as Job and the three
other men spoke. He obviously paid close attention
to what was said because he was able to give some
compassionate but direct counsel that helped Job
correct his thinking. (Job 33:1, 6, 17) Elihu’s main
concern was to exalt Jehovah, not himself or any
other man. (Job 32:21, 22; 37:23, 24) From Elihu’s
example we learn that there is a time to keep silent
and listen. (Jas. 1:19) We also learn that when we do
give counsel, our primary interest should be to
bring honor to Jehovah, not to ourselves.
18 We can show that we value the gift of speech by
following the Bible’s advice about when and how to
speak. Wise King Solomon was inspired to write:
“Like apples of gold in silver carvings is a word spo-
ken at the right time.” (Prov. 25:11) When we listen
17. What can we learn from Elihu’s example?
18. How can we show that we value the gift of speech?

40 THE WATCHTOWER
carefully to what others say and we think before we
speak, our words can be like those apples of gold
—both valuable and beautiful. Then, whether we say
a little or a lot, our speech will build others up, and
we will make Jehovah proud of us. (Prov. 23:15; Eph.
4:29) What better way could we express our appre-
ciation for this gift from God!

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PICTURE DESCRIPTIONS Page 33: At an appropriate time, Abigail
appealed to David, with a good outcome. Page 34: A sister sees the
need to give some mature advice. A brother offers recommendations
about cleanliness. Page 37: A couple refrain from revealing details
about our work in a place where it is banned. An elder takes care that
his words about a confidential congregation matter are not overheard.

HOW WOULD YOU ANSWER?

˛ When should we ˛ When should we ˛ What lesson did
speak? be silent? you learn from
the Bible charac-
ters discussed in
this article?

SONG 82
“Let Your Light Shine”
 STUDY
ARTICLE 13

Love One Another

Intensely
“Love one another intensely from the heart.”—1 PET. 1:22.

SONG 109
Love Intensely From the Heart

PREVIEW
Jesus said that love is the identifying mark of true
Christians. Love for our brothers and sisters moves us
to be peacemakers, to be impartial, and to be hospitable.
This may not always be easy. This article provides
practical suggestions on how to continue loving one
another intensely from the heart.
42
ON THE night before he died, Jesus gave his disciples
a specific command. He told them: “Just as I have
loved you, you also love one another.” Then he add-
ed: “By this all will know that you are my disciples—if
you have love among yourselves.”—John 13:34, 35.
2 Jesus said that his true disciples would be clear-
ly identifiable if they showed the same sort of love
that he displayed. That statement was true in the first
century, and it is true today. How important it is that
we overcome any challenges and show love for one
another!
3 Human imperfection makes it difficult for us to
show intense love for one another. Even so, we must
try to imitate Christ. In this article, we will consider
how love helps us to be peacemakers, to be impartial,
and to be hospitable. As you study the material, ask
yourself: ‘What can I learn from brothers and sisters
who have continued to show love for one another de-
spite challenges?’
1. What specific command did Jesus give his disciples? (See cover
picture.)
2. Why is it important to show love for one another?
3. What will we consider in this article?

MARCH 2020 43
 BE A PEACEMAKER
4 Jesus taught us the importance of making peace
with a brother who has something against us. (Read
Matthew 5:23, 24.) He emphasized that we need to
maintain good relations with others if we are to
please God. Jehovah is happy when we do our best to
make peace with our brothers. He will not accept our
worship if we hang on to resentment and refuse even
to try to make peace.—1 John 4:20.
5 We may find it difficult to make peace. Why? Con-
sider what happened to Mark.1 He felt hurt when a
brother criticized him and said bad things about him
to others in the congregation. How did Mark react?
“I lost control and got angry,” he recalls. After-
ward, though, Mark regretted his behavior and tried
to apologize to the brother and restore peace with
him. But the brother rejected Mark’s efforts. Initial-
ly, Mark thought, ‘Why should I keep trying if he
does not want to make peace?’ However, the circuit
overseer encouraged him not to give up. What did
Mark do?
1 Some names in this article have been changed.

4. According to Matthew 5:23, 24, why should we make peace with

a brother who has something against us?
5. What made it difficult for one brother to make peace?

44 THE WATCHTOWER
 6 When Mark analyzed his thinking, he realized
that he lacked humility and tended to be self-
righteous. He recognized that he needed to change
his attitude. (Col. 3:8, 9, 12) He humbly approached
the brother again and apologized for his behavior.
Mark also wrote letters to the brother, saying how
sorry he was and how much he wanted to make a
fresh start. Mark even gave the brother small gifts
that he thought the brother would like. Sadly, the
brother continued to hold a grudge. Nevertheless,
Mark continued to obey Jesus’ command to love his
brother and to be forgiving. (Read Colossians 3:13,
14.) Even when others do not respond to our efforts
to make peace, true Christian love will help us to
keep forgiving them and praying for a positive out-
come.—Matt. 18:21, 22; Gal. 6:9.
7 Jesus urged us to keep treating others the way we
want to be treated. He added that we should not lim-
it our love only to those who show love in return.
(Luke 6:31-33) Though it would be unusual, what if
someone in the congregation avoids you and refuses
to greet you? That is what Lara experienced. She ex-
plains: “A sister ignored me, and I did not know why.
6. (a) How did Mark pursue peace? (b) How did Mark apply Colos-
sians 3:13, 14?
7. (a) What did Jesus urge us to do? (b) What difficult situation did
one sister face?

MARCH 2020 45
I felt tense and did not enjoy going to the meetings.”
At first, Lara reasoned: ‘I am not at fault. After all,
others in the congregation also feel that this sister
behaves strangely.’
8 Lara took steps to make peace. She prayed to Je-
hovah and decided to talk to the sister. They spoke
about the problem, hugged each other, and made
peace. Everything seemed fine. Lara relates: “But lat-
er, the sister showed the same attitude toward me as
she did earlier. I was so discouraged.” Initially, Lara
felt that she could be happy only if the other sister
changed her attitude. Eventually, though, Lara real-
ized that the best thing she could do was to contin-
ue treating the sister with love and “freely forgiv-
ing” her. (Eph. 4:32–5:2) Lara remembered that true
Christian love “does not keep account of the inju-
ry. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all
things, endures all things.” (1 Cor. 13:5, 7) Lara re-
gained her peace of mind. In time, the sister was
friendlier with her. When you pursue peace with your
brothers and sisters and continue loving them, you
can be sure that “the God of love and of peace will
be with you.”—2 Cor. 13:11.
8. What did Lara do to make peace, and what can we learn from her
experience?

46 THE WATCHTOWER
 BE IMPARTIAL
9 Jehovah is not partial. (Read Acts 10:34, 35.)
When we are impartial, we prove that we are his chil-
dren. We obey the command to love our neighbor as
ourselves, and we maintain the peace of our spiritu-
al family.—Rom. 12:9, 10; Jas. 2:8, 9.
10Remaining impartial may not be easy for some.
Consider, for example, what happened to a sister
named Ruth. When she was a teenager, she had a bad
experience with someone who was from a different
country. How did it affect her? Ruth admits: “I hated
9. According to Acts 10:34, 35, why do we need to be impartial?
10-11. How did one sister overcome her negative feelings?

More than one kind of approach may be needed to bury bad feelings
(See paragraphs 7-8)
everything about that country. I thought that all peo-
ple from that place were the same, even the brothers
and sisters.” How did Ruth overcome her negative
feelings?
11 Ruth recognized that she had to fight her nega-
tive thinking. She read experiences and reports from
the Yearbook about that country. She says: “I made an
effort to think positively about the people of that
land. I started to notice that the brothers and sisters
had zeal for Jehovah. It became clear to me that they
too are part of our worldwide brotherhood.” Gradu-
ally, Ruth realized that she needed to do more. She
explains: “Whenever I met brothers and sisters from
that country, I made a special effort to be friendly
with them. I talked to them and got to know them
better.” What was the result? Ruth says: “In time, my
negative feelings disappeared.”
12 Some may be partial without even realizing it.
Sarah, for example, thought that she was impartial
because she did not judge people based on their race,
their financial standing, or their position of respon-
sibility in the organization. But she admits: “I began
to realize that I really was partial.” In what way? Sa-
rah came from a well-educated family and preferred
to associate with people who had the same back-
12. What problem did a sister named Sarah have?

48 THE WATCHTOWER
 If we have intense “love for the whole association
of brothers,” we will avoid being partial
(See paragraphs 12-13)

ground. Once she even told a friend: “I associate with

fellow believers who are well-educated. I avoid those
who are not.” Clearly, Sarah needed to change her at-
titude. How?
13 A circuit overseer helped Sarah to analyze her at-
titude. She relates: “He commended me for my faith-
ful service, good comments, and knowledge of the
Scriptures. Then he explained that as our knowledge
grows, we also need to cultivate such Christian qual-
ities as humility, modesty, and mercy.” Sarah took
13. What can we learn from how Sarah changed her attitude?

MARCH 2020 49
the circuit overseer’s words to heart. She says: “I re-
alized that what really matters is that we are kind and
loving.” As a result, she began to view her brothers
and sisters differently. She explains: “I tried to un-
derstand what qualities make them precious to Jeho-
vah.” What about us? Never would we want to feel su-
perior to others because of our education! If we have
intense “love for the whole association of brothers,”
we will avoid being partial.—1 Pet. 2:17.
BE HOSPITABLE
14Jehovah highly values hospitality. (Read He-
brews 13:16.) He considers it part of our worship, es-
pecially when we help the needy. (Jas. 1:27; 2:14-17)
Therefore, the Scriptures encourage us to “follow
the course of hospitality.” (Rom. 12:13) We express
genuine fondness, affection, and friendship when we
are hospitable. Jehovah is pleased whether we share
with others a snack, something to drink, a meal, or
our time and loving attention. (1 Pet. 4:8-10) How-
ever, there may be obstacles that can make it difficult
for us to be hospitable.
15 We may hesitate to show hospitality because of
14. According to Hebrews 13:16, how does Jehovah feel when we
show hospitality to others?
15-16. (a) Why might some hesitate to show hospitality? (b) How
did Edit overcome her hesitation to show hospitality?

50 THE WATCHTOWER
 “In the past, I was not inclined to show hospitality,
but I changed and have received much joy”
(See paragraph 16)

our circumstances. Consider the example of a widow

named Edit. Before she became a Witness, she pre-
ferred to have little contact with others. Edit felt that
others were in a better position to be hospitable.
16 After she became a Witness, Edit changed her
way of thinking. She took steps to be hospitable. She
relates: “When our new Kingdom Hall was being
built, an elder told me about a married couple who
were coming to help with the project, and he asked
me if I could offer them accommodations for two
weeks. I remembered how Jehovah blessed the widow
MARCH 2020 51
of Zarephath.” (1 Ki. 17:12-16) Edit agreed to host the
couple. Was she blessed? She explains: “Two weeks
turned into two months. During that time, we devel-
oped a close friendship.” Edit has also been blessed
with close friends in the congregation. She is now
a pioneer and enjoys having those with whom she
works in the ministry come to her home for refresh-
ments. She says: “Giving makes me feel good! And
the truth is that I receive so many blessings in re-
turn.”—Heb. 13:1, 2.
17We may already be showing hospitality, but can
we improve? For example, Luke and his wife are a
hospitable couple. They were in the habit of inviting
to their home their parents, relatives, close friends,
and the circuit overseer and his wife. However, Luke
says, “We realized that we were inviting only those
who were close to us.” How did Luke and his wife im-
prove in showing hospitality?
18 Luke and his wife changed their view after re-
flecting on Jesus’ words: “If you love those loving
you, what reward do you have?” (Matt. 5:45-47) They
realized that they needed to imitate Jehovah, who is
generous toward all. So they made it a point to invite
brothers and sisters whom they had not invited be-
17. What realization did Luke and his wife come to?
18. How did Luke and his wife improve in showing hospitality?

52 THE WATCHTOWER
fore. Luke says: “All of us now enjoy these occasions
so much. Everyone feels encouraged and upbuilt.”
19
We have examined how having intense love for
one another can help us to be peacemakers, to be im-
partial, and to be hospitable. We must overcome any
negative feelings and love our brothers and sisters in-
tensely from the heart. If we do, we will be happy and
we will prove that we really are Jesus’ disciples.
—John 13:17, 35.
19. How do we prove that we are Jesus’ disciples, and what are you
determined to do?

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PICTURE DESCRIPTIONS Page 47: A sister’s first attempt to resolve a
matter is not successful, but she does not give up. Her continued efforts
to show love eventually succeed. Page 49: An older brother is feeling ex-
cluded by others in the congregation. Page 51: A sister who initially
hesitated to show hospitality changes her thinking, and the change
brings her added happiness.

HOW CAN WE SHOW INTENSE LOVE BY . . .

˛ being ˛ being impartial? ˛ being hospitable?
peacemakers?

SONG 88
Make Me Know Your Ways
 LIFE STORY

“Here We Are! Send Us!”

AS TOLD BY JACK AND MARIE-LINE BERGAME

ARE you looking to expand your ministry by

moving to where the need is greater, perhaps
a foreign land? If so, you may benefit from
the experience of Brother and Sister Bergame.

54 THE WATCHTOWER
Jack and Marie-Line have been in full-time service
together since 1988. Known for their remarkable
adaptability, they have accepted many assignments
in Guadeloupe and French Guiana. Both places are
now under the supervision of the France branch. Let
us ask Jack and Marie-Line a few questions.

What motivated you to take up full-time service?

Marie-Line: As a child growing up in Guadeloupe, I
often preached all day with my mother, who was a
zealous Witness. I love people, so as soon as I fin-
ished school, in 1985, I started pioneering.
Jack: As a youngster, I was surrounded by full-
time servants who loved the ministry. I used to auxil-
iary pioneer during school vacations. On weekends,
we would sometimes take a bus to join the pioneers in
their territory. We preached all day—ending at the
beach. Those days were such fun!
Shortly after marrying Marie-Line in 1988, I said
to myself, We are free, so why not do more in the
ministry?’ I joined Marie-Line in the pioneer service.
A year later, after attending pioneer school, we were
appointed as special pioneers. We had several enjoy-
able assignments in Guadeloupe before being invited
to move to French Guiana.
MARCH 2020 55
You have received many changes of assignment
over the years. What has helped you to adapt to
new circumstances?
Marie-Line: The brothers at the French Guiana
Bethel knew that our favorite scripture is Isaiah 6:8.
So when they called us, they would often start by
playfully saying, “Do you remember your favorite
scripture?” We knew it meant that an assignment
change was coming, so we would say, “Here we are!
Send us!”
We avoid making comparisons with past assign-
ments because doing so could prevent us from appre-
ciating what we have. We also take the initiative to get
to know our brothers and sisters.
Jack: In the past, some well-intentioned friends
tried to discourage us from moving because they
wanted us to stay near them. But when we left Guade-
loupe, one brother reminded us of Jesus’ words re-
corded at Matthew 13:38: “The field is the world.” So
when we change assignments, we remind ourselves
that we are still serving in the same field no matter
where we are. After all, the people and the territory
count the most!
When we arrive in a new territory, we see that oth-
ers are able to live there quite happily. Hence, we try
56 THE WATCHTOWER
 to live as the locals do. The food may be different, but
we eat what they eat and we drink what they drink,
taking the appropriate health precautions. We make
an effort to speak positively about every assignment.
Marie-Line: We also learn much from the local
brothers. I remember when we first arrived in French
Guiana. It was raining hard, so we thought we would
have to wait for the rain to stop before we could go
out preaching. But then a sister asked me, “Shall we
go?” Surprised, I responded, “How?” She answered,
“Take your umbrella, and we will go on our bikes.”
Thus I learned how to hold an umbrella and ride a
bike at the same time. Had I not learned, I would
never have preached during the rainy season!

Caribbean GUADELOUPE
Sea
FRENCH
GUIANA

SOUTH
AMERICA
You have moved some 15 times. Do you have any
tips for others about moving?
Marie-Line: Moving can be a challenge. Still, it is im-
portant to find a place where you will feel at home
when you come back from the ministry.
Jack: I usually repaint the interior of our home. The
brothers at the branch, realizing that we might not be
staying long, would sometimes say, “Jack, don’t both-
er painting this time!”
Marie-Line is an expert packer! She puts everything
in boxes and labels them “bathroom,” “bedroom,”
“kitchen,” and the like. So when we arrive at our new
home, we can more easily place the boxes into the ap-
propriate rooms. She makes a list of the contents in
each box so that we can quickly find what we need.
Marie-Line: Because we have learned to be well-
organized, we can get right into our routine.
How do you schedule your time so that you “fully
accomplish your ministry”?—2 Tim. 4:5.
Marie-Line: On Mondays, we rest and prepare for
the meetings. From Tuesday on, we go out in the min-
istry.
Jack: Although we have an hour requirement, we
don’t focus on that. The ministry is the center of our
58 THE WATCHTOWER
lives. From the time we leave home until the time we
return, we strive to speak to all whom we meet.
Marie-Line: When we go on a picnic, for example, I
always take tracts with me. Some people approach us
and ask for publications, even though we haven’t told
them that we are Jehovah’s Witnesses. Accordingly,
we are careful about the way we dress and behave.
People notice such things.
Jack: We also witness by being good neighbors.
I pick up papers, take out the trash, and rake the gar-
den around our home. Our neighbors take notice and
sometimes ask, “Would you by any chance have a Bi-
ble for me?”
You have often preached in remote territories. Do
any of these travels stand out in your mind?
Jack: In Guiana, some territories are difficult to
reach. We often have to travel 370 miles (600 km) in
a week on bad roads. Our visit to St. Élie, in the Ama-
zon forest, was memorable. It took us several hours
to get there using an off-road vehicle and a power-
boat. Most people who lived there were gold prospec-
tors. Out of gratitude for our publications, some gave
us small nuggets of gold as a contribution! In the
evening, we showed one of the organization’s videos.
Many locals attended.
MARCH 2020 59
 Marie-Line: Recently, Jack was asked to give the Me-
morial talk in Camopi. To get there, we traveled for
four hours by motorboat on the Oyapock River. It was
an exciting experience.
Jack: Where the water in the river was low, the rap-
ids could be quite dangerous. I can assure you that it
is impressive to see those rapids coming into view.
A boatman has to know what he is doing. But it was a
fine expedition. Although there were only 6 Witnesses
present, about 50 people attended the Memorial, in-
cluding some Amerindians!
Marie-Line: This kind of enriching experience awaits
young ones who want to give more to Jehovah. You
have to trust in Jehovah in these circumstances, and
your faith is strengthened. We often see Jehovah’s
hand at work.
You have learned several languages. Are you
gifted in languages?
Jack: Not at all. I learned these languages because
there was a need. I had to conduct the Watchtower
Study in Sranantongo1 before I had even given a Bi-
ble reading! I asked a brother how I did. He answered,
“Sometimes we didn’t understand some words, but it
 Sranantongo is a mix of English, Dutch, Portuguese, and African lan-
guages, originally developed by slaves.

60 THE WATCHTOWER
was very good.” The children were a great help. When
I made mistakes, they would say something, whereas
the adults would not. I learned a lot from the young
ones.
Marie-Line: In one territory, I had Bible studies in
French, Portuguese, and Sranantongo. A sister sug-
gested that I start with the hardest language and fin-
ish with the one most familiar to me. I soon under-
stood the wisdom of that advice.
One day, I had a Bible study in Sranantongo and
a second one in Portuguese. When I started the sec-
ond study, the sister with me said, “Marie-Line, I think
there might be a problem!” I realized that I was speak-
ing to a Brazilian woman in Sranantongo instead of
Portuguese!
You are dearly loved by those with whom you
have served. How have you been able to draw
close to the brothers?
Jack: Proverbs 11:25 says: “The generous person
will prosper.” We don’t hesitate to give of ourselves
to others. Regarding the maintenance of the Kingdom
Hall, some have said to me: “Let the publishers do
that.” But I reply: “Well, I’m a publisher too. So if there
is work to be done, I want to be there.” Though all of
us need some privacy, we often remind ourselves that
MARCH 2020 61
we don’t want our privacy to prevent us from doing
good to others.
Marie-Line: We make an effort to show personal in-
terest in our brothers and sisters. In that way, we
come to know when they need someone to look af-
ter their children or pick them up from school. We
can then reorganize our plans to be available to help.
We thus develop a close bond with others, being
ready to assist them when they need it.
What blessings have you received from serving
where the need is greater?
Jack: Full-time service has enriched our lives. We
have often been close to nature, enjoying Jehovah’s
diverse creation. Although there have been chal-
lenges, we have peace of mind because we know
that we have the support of God’s people wherever
we are.
As a young man, I was imprisoned in French Guiana
for my Christian neutrality. I never imagined that I
would return there one day as a missionary and be
authorized to visit prisons as a minister. Indeed, Jeho-
vah is generous in his blessings!
Marie-Line: My greatest joy is that of giving of
myself to others. We are happy to be in Jehovah’s ser-
vice. It has also drawn us closer together as a couple.
62 THE WATCHTOWER
At times, Jack will ask if we can invite a discouraged
couple over for a meal. Often I reply, “I was just think-
ing the same thing!” That is how it happens.
Jack: Recently, I was diagnosed with prostate can-
cer. Although Marie-Line does not like to hear it, I
have said to her: “Darling, if I were to die tomorrow, I
would not die ‘at a good old age.’ But I would die sat-
isfied, knowing that I filled my life with spiritual
things, with worthwhile things.”—Gen. 25:8.
Marie-Line: Jehovah has opened unexpected doors
and allowed us to do things we could never have
imagined. Our life has truly been filled with good
things. With full confidence in God, wherever his orga-
nization asks us to go, there is where we will go!
MARCH 2020 63
34567 ˙
March 2020
Vol. 141, No. 4 ENGLISH

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Study Article 10: May 4-10 2
Love and Appreciation for Jehovah Lead to Baptism
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Study Article 11: May 11-17 15
Are You Ready to Get Baptized?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Study Article 12: May 18-24 29
When Is the Right Time to Speak?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Study Article 13: May 25-31 42
Love One Another Intensely
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
LIFE STORY 54
“Here We Are! Send Us!”

COVER PICTURE:
On his last night with his apostles, Jesus emphasized love
(See study article 13, paragraphs 1-2)

This publication is not for sale. It is provided as part of a worldwide

Bible educational work supported by voluntary donations. To make
a donation, please visit donate.jw.org. Visit the jw.org ˙ website,
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the or scan code
modern-language New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures.

s
The Watchtower (ISSN 0043-1087) March 2020 is published by Watch-
tower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc.; Harold L. Corkern, Pres-
ident; Mark L. Questell, Secretary-Treasurer; 1000 Red Mills Road, Wallkill,
wlp20.03-E

NY 12589-3299, and by Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Canada,

191203

PO Box 4100, Georgetown, ON L7G 4Y4. ˘ 2019 Watch Tower Bible and Tract
Society of Pennsylvania. Printed in Canada.